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Feb 22, 2024 · Read on for our in-depth guide to planning the perfect Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, including the best times of year to visit, a section-by-section breakdown of highlights, the best BRP hotels, and much more!
- Jonathon Engels
- Planning advice. Best start and end points for the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the parkway's southern end, in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nearest commercial airport is Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), a two-hour drive.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Asheville. The Blue Ridge Parkway begins close to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it's definitely worth budgeting time to explore the park's stunning landscapes.
- Asheville to Blowing Rock. Where to stop. Just northeast of Asheville, Craggy Gardens Picnic Area (milepost 364) is a shaded tract of outdoor tables with slightly sloping trails leading to magnificent stands of rhododendrons, azaleas and mountain laurels.
- Blowing Rock to Roanoke. Where to stop. As you approach Virginia, stop for lunch at the parkway's oldest eatery, The Bluffs (milepost 238), a restored 1940s rustic-style diner known for fried chicken lunches, before taking a walk around nearby Brinegar Cabin, a small late-19th-century homestead that's typical of those that once proliferated in these mountains.
Jun 9, 2024 · Show up in fall, and the entire landscape will be ablaze with the colors of the hardwoods. The foliage lights up early (late September, early October) at the higher peaks like Mount Mitchell ...
- Charlotte to Bryson City, North Carolina (Great Smoky Mountain National Park) Charlotte. 3 h 30 m. 180 mi. Bryson City. Route: Via I-85, US 321, I-40, US 74. Eat & Drink: Fire and smoke burgers with smoked gouda and tobacco onions, cauliflower fritters, and pulled pork nachos are the sort of yummy dishes you’ll find at Olde Hickory Station, occupying an old train station in the heart of Hickory, where US 321 and US 40 meet.
- Bryson City to Asheville, North Carolina. Bryson City. 3 h 20 m. 97 mi. Asheville. Route: Via US 19, US 441S in Cherokee, and Blue Ridge Parkway. Nature: Drag yourself out of bed early to arrive just after sunrise at the Oconauftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, near the Blue Ridge Parkway’s southern terminus, where elk calmly graze in the meadows.
- Asheville to Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Asheville. 3 h. 89 mi. Blowing Rock. Route: Via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Eat & Drink: The homey Switzerland Café in Little Switzerland (milepost 331) is a favorite stop on the North Carolina Barbecue Society’s Historic Barbecue Trail—though there are plenty of fresh, homemade non-BBQ options as well.
- Blowing Rock to Roanoke, Virginia. Blowing Rock. 4 h. 173 mi. Roanoke. Route: Via the Blue Ridge Parkway. Nature: An easy, half-mile interpretive loop trail from milepost 272.5 leads to the magnificent Cascade Falls in E.B.
- Where Is Blue Ridge Parkway Located and Where Does It Start and End?
- The Starting Point of Blue Ridge Parkway
- The End Point of Blue Ridge Parkway
- Did Blue Ridge Parkway Change Over time?
- Where Can I Start My Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip?
- How Long Does It Take to Drive on Blue Ridge Parkway?
- Things to Know That Can Impact Your Driving Time
- Attractions and Scenic Areas on Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the states of Virginia and North Carolina on the eastern side of the United States. It's a 469-mile scenic highway that travels through the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachians. If you're following the mileposts in order, the route runs from north to south, though of course, it's possible to follow this...
The Blue Ridge Parkway begins just outside Waynesboro, VA. You can also join the parkway from I-64 if you're coming from further afield. The road runs straight on from Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park so you can easily combine the two scenic roads into a single trip if you have the time. The Blue Ridge Parkway is primarily a scenic dr...
The Blue Ridge Parkway ends where it meets US-441 on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The nearest town is Cherokee, just a couple of miles along the highway. Here, you can spend some time at the informative Cherokee Indian Museum, which celebrates the history and culture of the region's native American people. If you're looking to s...
The Blue Ridge Parkway was built between the 1930s and 1980s. It was always intended to link Virginia's Skyline Drive (through what's now Shenandoah National Park) with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee. The starting and ending points were what drove the development of the parkway and so they were always part o...
Most people will plan their Blue Ridge Parkway road trip based on the city they start the drive from. If you're starting nearby you'll probably already have a feel for whether the northern or southern end of the parkway makes a more convenient starting point. The great thing about the location of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is close to the inters...
With a maximum speed limit of 45 mph, it takes upwards of 11 hours to drive the whole of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as long as you have a clear road. At busy times, slower moving vehicles can cause tailbacks so allow an extra 3 hours to make the trip. We suggest allowing at least 3 days to drive the route at a leisurely pace. This gives you time to st...
Here are our top tips to drive Blue Ridge Parkway in the shortest time possible: 1. Take turns behind the wheel so that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the view while you drive. 2. Choose an economical car so that you don't have to leave the parkway too often to refuel. 3. Drive mid-week, when there's likely to be less traffic. 4. Start early in th...
As you'd probably expect, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers mile after mile of spectacular views, and the beauty of this drive is that you can simply pull over to enjoy them whenever you're ready. There are countless other viewpoints and scenic trails, but here are some of the most popular to look out for. If you're set on visiting some of these on bus...
Mar 1, 2022 · Are you taking a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway? This 7 day Blue Ridge Parkway itinerary has you covered - fantastic stops, tips, a map, and more!
Mar 20, 2023 · The best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway is in the fall (late September to early November) and spring (mid-march to early June). The fall season is the most popular time to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s that time of year when you can enjoy the foliage.
